Dear Parents, These past few weeks, we have been learning about sound in our science class.

We have learned that vibrations cause sound, the differences in pitch and volume, how tension effects pitch, what sound receivers and sound sources are, as well as how the length of something can determine the pitch. While we have had paper-pencil assessments, I would like to see if they can really apply their concepts in a hands-on, fun pro ect. This is your child!s chance to show their creativity and ingenuity through making their own homemade instrument" #ttached to this letter, you will find a list of definitions we have learned, a list of potential instruments to create, a letter to the student for the pro ect, and the pro ect grading rubric. $ou may assist your child in constructing the instrument, but please let them take the lead on the research and decision-making for the pro ect. The classes will be presenting their instruments on Friday, November 1 during science. I can take some video and pictures for anyone that would like to see their child present. %ust let me know if you would like for me to do so. If you have any &uestions whatsoever, please feel free to e-mail me at nms'''()uah.edu. *appy inventing"

+ikki ,hedd -#* ,tudent Teacher

Sound Definitions

1. pitch how high or low a sound is 2. volume how loud or soft a sound is 3. sound receiver something that hears or responds to a sound .e/. your ears0 4. sound source anything that vibrates in a way that makes sound 5. sound discrimination identifying sounds as different from one another 6. vibration rapid movement back and forth 7. properties an ob ect!s look, feel, sound, taste, and smell 8. tension the force pulling on an ob ect in opposite directions To get your creative uices flowing, your child .with your guidance0 could check out these websites for some inspiration. $ou do not have to do these instruments, but they might spark a great idea" Trumpet http122www.nyphilkids.org2lab2make3trumpet.html Percussion http122www.rhythmweb.com2homemade2 .4ake sure there are more than ( pitches the drums can play. Try varying si5es of drum to achieve this, or make a 6drum set.70 Various Instruments http122www.kinderart.com2teachers28instruments.shtml Harmonica http122spoonful.com2crafts2 am-wooden-harmonica Guitar http122www.makeit-loveit.com2('992':2mister-make-it-and-love-itseries.html .;or varying pitch, try different widths of rubber bands"0 Tub ass http122www.instructables.com2id2,uperterrific-Tub-<ass2 .This will remind them of an inverted minigutbucket"0 !uler "r#an http122www.instructables.com2id2#-=ule->rgan2?step9 .# little more involved with pitches, but if you or your child is musically inclined, they!ll love this one"0

Gutbuc$et %usic &ompany Instrument &'allen#e

# uni&ue phone call came today to the school office. # musical instrument company called the @utbucket 4usic Aompany is developing a product called 6The %unkyard <and,7 and they would like us to develop a possible collection of instruments made of 6 unk7 commonly found by Bth graders. =emember, in class, we have discovered that sound is cause by vibration, and musical instruments use many ways to create their sounds. That includes water vibrating .waterphone0, surfaces vibrating .table0, tools vibrating ./ylophone0, and strings vibrating .minigutbucket0. $our ob is to collect 6 unk7 that you could use to create a working instrument. This assignment is to be completed at home. <elow is a rubric that will be used to grade your pro ect. !()D t'is rubric so you know what is e/pected" @ood luck"""
..The total earned points will be divided by 9( for a grade ranging from '-9''.00

&reativity

* Points -ou used several pieces of ./un$0 in desi#nin# a creative instrument1 -our instrument creates several different pitc'es1 -our 3ritten directions for creatin# t'e instrument are clear1 -our oral e5planation of t'e instrument 3as clear1

Pitc'

+ Points -ou used a couple pieces of 2/un$0 in desi#nin# a creative instrument1 -our instrument can create at least + pitc'es1 -our 3ritten directions for creatin# t'e instrument are some3'at clear1 -our oral e5planation of t'e instrument 3as some3'at clear1

1 Point -ou created an instrument t'at 3as also created in class1

, Points T'e pro/ect 3as not attempted1

-our instrument only creates 1 pitc'1 -our 3ritten directions for creatin# t'e instrument are not very clear1 -our oral e5planation of t'e instrument 3as not very clear1

T'e pro/ect 3as not attempted1

4ritten Directions

T'e pro/ect 3as not attempted1

"ral Presentation

T'e pro/ect 3as not attempted1